Sunderland's Bramble happy to have 'influential' Cattermole back in action

The 24-year old midfielder has battled for fitness this season because of a knee injury but is expected to be back in the Black Cats side very soon which excites Bramble.

"Lee's someone that we've really missed," he told reporters. "I look back at the recent Reading game where we lost, for example, when we should have won, and he would have been ideal for a match like that in terms of imposing himself on the game and giving us a platform.

"He's the captain and he can be a very influential player when he gets a run in the side. I've seen it at Wigan and I've seen it at Sunderland, and it's just one of those facts of football that if you take the captain out of any side it doesn't help you.

"He's been a big miss over the last few months because he's a leader with this great will to win. And when he gets himself in the groove and is really on his game he takes the whole team and the fans with him and gets everyone going.

"It's just a shame that this season he's had injuries which haven't really allowed him to contribute in the way he has done.

"But hopefully he'll be back soon to help us with the run in because if he can get back and get a run of games in towards the end of the season it is going to be a big, big help to us."

About the author

Andrew Slevison is an avid sports fan, particularly of the world game. The Melbourne, Australia native, who has spent time living in London and travelling South America, takes a keen interest in the English Premier League and Major League Soccer and rates his best live footballing moment as the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil.